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Rabbit Treats

Many excited new rabbit owners are anxious to begin spoiling their bunny right from the start. A casual look around a pet store will reveal a variety of "healthy bunny treats" complete with photos of adorable bunnies on the packaging. Honey, seeds, corn, and even yogurt (redirects to another site) are advertised as good for bunny. Unfortunately, these treats are not at all healthy or beneficial -- many are even detrimental to a rabbit's health.

Fresh is best! Skip the store-bought treats and stick with what is good for your rabbit. Fresh fruit, carrots, greens and even pellets can all function as special treats. For young rabbits who aren't old enough for greens, food pellets can be hand fed. The act of hand-feeding can make the pellets a "treat." Rabbits that are already on a regular diet that includes greens, will look forward each day to the time they get their greens. But for that extra special "treat," rabbits love to get some fresh fruit, carrot, or dried fruit (no added sugar).

Just a little each day! The high sugar content even of fresh fruit and carrots requires severe limits on the amount fed per day. A 5-7 lb rabbit should receive no more than 1-2 measuring tablespoons per day. That means about a 1" slice of carrot OR a small slice of apple (no seeds). These are daily maximums, so do not HAVE to be fed daily. Dried fruits like raisins or banana chips are more concentrated, so stick with the smaller amount of 1 tablespoon. lSome rabbits are even more sensitive to sugar. If yours gets mushy poo after feeding a treat, then stop that treat. It may be necessary to reduce treats to just 2 to 3 times per week or less. As always, monitor your bunny for reactions to any new foods.

Even though rabbits should only receive limited treats, those treats are a great way to get your bunny to warm up to you. Rabbits are notorious for loving sweets and it doesn't take them long to figure out who is the giver of those yummy treats!

Most pre-packaged "bunny" treats are either unhealthy or harmful to rabbits.

What's wrong with these treats? Just about any rabbit will gobble up any offered treat. Unfortunately, domestic rabbits will also happily eat a toxic plant without knowing any better. They just don't know what is and what is not safe to eat.

Seeds are not a part of a rabbit's diet. Rabbits are not rodents. Only black oil sunflower seeds are ok for rabbits to eat.

Corn kernels have hulls -- the outer layering on each individual kernel. The hulls of corn kernels are indigestible to rabbits. Rabbits have died from gut impaction caused by an accumulation of corn hulls in their gut.

Yogurt is a dairy product. Once weaned, rabbits can no longer digest dairy. Rabbits should not be offered any milk products including yogurt. The only exception would be if a vet suggests a small amount of yogurt to introduce bacterial cultures for a specific purpose.

Sugar can imbalance the very delicate bacterial balance in a rabbit's digestive system. This is why even natural treats like fresh fruit must be so severely limited. The natural sugar found in fruit, however, is a far better option than the processed sugar found in packaged treats.

Grains (wheat, rye, oats, barley) and rice may be found in packaged treats as well as in cereals, crackers, and cookies that some use as rabbit treats. They may be high in fiber, but that doesn't mean they are ok for a rabbit. They are very starchy and not good for a rabbit's digestion. They can lead to fatty liver disease and cecal dysbiosis. These should not be fed to a rabbit.

Artificial coloring is in almost every one of the packaged treats. Artificial food dyes have no health benefit and are suspected of causing health issues. Colors are usually added to appeal to the buyer, not to the pet.

An important note on age:Remember, only a rabbit who is already receiving a diet that includes a variety of greens (in addition to the hay and limited pellets) should be permitted treats. Be sure to read up on greens before offering any treats to your rabbit.